Hearty Ground Beef Soup (Jauhelihakeitto)

Published: 7/31/2026

A national classic of Finnish home cooking. This clear-broth soup is light yet satisfying, packed with root vegetables and lean beef.

Ingredients (6 servings)

• 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
• 1 lb (450 g) potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 large carrots, sliced into rounds
• 1 leek, cleaned and sliced
• 5 cups (1.2 liters) beef or vegetable broth
• 5-8 allspice berries
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
2. Add the sliced leeks to the beef and sauté until softened.
3. Pour in the broth and add the allspice berries and bay leaf. Bring to a boil.
4. Add the potatoes and carrots. Reduce heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork-tender.
5. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove the allspice berries and bay leaf before serving.
6. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Pro Tips

• Remove the Berries: Always remove the whole allspice berries before serving to prevent guests from biting into them. For deeper flavor, lightly toast the berries in the dry pot before adding the meat.

See Also

• Classic French Onion Soup (Ranskalainen sipulikeitto)
• Creamy Nordic Salmon Soup (Authentic Lohikeitto)
• Creamy Nordic Summer Soup (Kesäkeitto)

Categories: soups